Eyeleting machines and methods for wire terminal forming



July 31, 1956 s. GOOKIN 2,756,802

EYELETING MACHINES AND METHODS FOR WIRE TERMINAL FORMING Filed May 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l In-ven t or Sy veszerL. Goo/rm By his Atorney S. L. GOOKIN July 31, 1956 EYELETING MACHINES AND METHODS FOR WIRE TERMINAL FORMING Filed May 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Sylvester L. Goo/(in By his Aiorney July 31, 1956 s. GOOKIN 2,756,802

EYELETING MACHINES AND METHODS FOR WIRE TERMINAL FORMING Filed May 25, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet Z Inventor SyZvesterL. Goo/(in By his Aiiorney July 31, 1956 5 GOOKlN 2,756,802

EYELETING MACHINES AND METHODS FOR WIRE TERMINAL FORMING Filed May 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 18. Inventor SylveslferL. Gookzn By his Attorney EYELETING MACHINES AND METHGDS WEE TERMINAL FQRNHNG Sylvester L. Goolrin, Cohasset, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 25, 1953, Serial No. 356,982

12 Claims. c1. 153-1 This invention relates to eyeleting machines, and more particularly to improvements in the type of eyeleting machine which is employed to form terminals on the ends of electrical conductor wires. One example of such a terminal and of such type of machine is illustrated in United States Letters Patent No. 2,530,575, granted November 21, 1950, upon my application.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a novel method for forming an improved electric wire terminal.

Heretofore, whenever forming wire terminals, it has been the practice manually to present the bared or stripped end of an insulated conductor wire to the machine in such a manner that the free end of the Wire extended transversely across and beyond the pilot pin of the upsetting anvil while a movable finger pressed the wire against the pilot pin. The finger was then revolved about the axis of the pin, thereby wiping or wrapping the free end of the wire around the pilot pin to form a wire eye. After the eye had been thus formed on the bare end of the wire, an eyelet descended upon the pilot pin and the barrel of the eyelet was installed within the wire eye and then upset and clenched about the eye. One of the disadvantages of forming eyelets in the abovedescribed manner is that the finger which bends or wraps the wire into a loop cannot be revolved all the way around the pin without striking an intermediate portion of the conductor wire and thereby again bending or unwrapping that portion of the loop which was first bent around the pin. In addition, if the free end of the wire did not extend a sufficient distance beyond the pin before the wrapping commenced, the finger, when revolved, might pass beyond the end of the wire thus losing its hold on the end of the wire and permitting the eye to spring open before the barrel of the eyelet could be inserted and clenched about the eye. It can be readily understood from the foregoing that a great deal of skill and constant attention was required on the part of an operator to correctly present the wire for the operation of the machine. In addition the operator had to guard against the possibility of retrograde movement of the wire, such as might be caused by an inadvertent pull on his part, because the end portion of the wire was not positively gripped by the revolving mechanism which formed the eye, and therefore could he accidentally withdrawn.

A further objection to the operation of all previously known machines for forming wire terminals is that the wire could not be Wrapped directly about the eyelet barrel; the eye had to be formed directly about the pilot pin, and then the tapered barrel of the eyelet had to be installed by wedging it between the wire eye and the pin. This practice often displaced certain strands of a stranded wire so that they could not be embraced within the clenched prongs of the eyelet, and the strands thus displaced projected at random beyond the outer periphery of the finished terminal.

An object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will form a wire eye directly around the nited States Patent ice 2 eyelet barrel, thereby avoiding the objectionable necessity of installing the eyelet within an unsupported and loosely wrapped eye.

Anotherobject of the invention is to assure that the wire of the eye is wrapped tightly and entirely around the barrel portion preparatory to the upsetting and clenching of the eyelet.

A further object is to enable the foregoing operations to be invariably accomplished without special attention and skill on the part of the operator.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel method of wire terminal forming, by which method an end portion of the bared conductor wire, before the Wrapping operation, is first permanently united to the eyelet by upsetting a split longitudinal portion of the eyelet barrel and clenching said portion around the wire; with the end of the wire thus positively gripped the entire eyelet is then rotated to wind the wire completely around the barrel of the eyelet. After a closed wire eye has been thus formed, the remaining barrel portions are upset so as to embrace the eye and are finally clenched against the concave side of the eyelet flange.

An important feature of this invention is the means whereby, coincident with the descent of an eyelet upon the pilot pin of the anvil or lower die tool, a longitudinal portion of the barrel is split and clenched circumferentially about the end of wire which has been presented to the machine.

Another important feature is the means whereby the entire eyelet is rotated to thereby wind the wire around the eyelet barrel while an end portion of the wire is firmly clenched to the rotating eyelet.

The above and other advantageous features of this invention will be more fully understood and appreciated when considered with the following detailed description in connection with the drawings, and will be pointed out further in the appended-claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine, partly broken away, constructed in accordance with this invention and as seen in its at-rest position;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing the construction of the upsetting anvil and pilot pin (hereafter referred to as the lower die tools), also the machine parts directly associated therewith, as viewed in the at-rest position of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of parts shown in Fig. 2 illustrating the manner in which an end of Wire is presented preparatory to the operation of the machine;

Fig. 4 illustrates a slight modification of parts, shown in Fig. 3, for engaging the wire when presented to the machine;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation illustrating the cooperative action of the upper and lower die tools at an intermediate phase of the machine operation and the manner in which a portion of the eyelet barrel is progressively split and clenched around the wire preparatory to the subsequent operation of rotating the eyelet to wrap the wire end about the barrel; 7

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the workpieces as they would appear if removed from the setting die tools at the operational phase illustrated in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the cam operated mechanism for rotating the lower die tools, as seen in the at-rest position;

Fig. 8 shows the cam of Fig. 7 as viewed at an intermediate phase and just prior to the rotation of the lower die tools;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation illustrating the cam operated mechanisms for oscillating the eyelet supplying racewav and for vertically reciprocating the upper die tool as viewed in the at-rest position of the machine;

Fig. 10 illustrates the mechanisms of Fig. 9 as viewed at a later and intermediate phase with the raceway in retracted position and the upper tool-operating mechanism partially depressed to thereby press the eyelet downward to the extent illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 7, but illustrating the position of the lower die tools and their actuating mechanism at the completion of the wire wrapping and eyelet clenching operations;

Fig. 12 is a right side elevation of the lower die tools and parts directly associated therewith, as seen at the completion of the wrapping and clenching operations;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Figs. 9 and 10, but illustrating the positions of the mechanisms at the time when full downward pressure is applied to the upper tool to complete the clenching operation; and

Fig. 14 illustrates a completed terminal as viewed in perspective and flange side down.

General organization of the machine Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, one aspect of the invention is illustrated as embodied in the construction of an eyelet inserting machine adapted to perform the wire terminal-forming operations in accordance with the sequence of steps set forth in the method claims appended hereto. In the illustrative machine the frame is in part comprised of a base portion 24} providing both a journaled mounting for a rotary power drive shaft 22 and a fixed support 23 for a tool assembly and housing 24 located forwardly of the base 20. The construction of the mechanism within the housing 24 and the manner of its operation will be related in detail hereafter in connection with the description of the novel features embodied in the lower anvil tool assembly. An intermediate frame portion in the form of an upwardly extending column 26 is provided at its forward extremity with a bracket 28 through which is vertically journaled a plunger 30 for operating an upper eyelet-setting tool 31. A rotatable power cam shaft 32 is operatively supported above the plunger 30 by a pair of brackets 34, 36 extending upwardly from the frame portion 26. The cam shaft 32 is intermittently operated, through a clutch and brake assembly, generally designated at 38, by a drive belt 40 connected to the drive shaft 22 so as to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. The clutch is tripped by the manual movement of a treadle rod 39. The disengagement of the clutch and application of the brake to stop the shaft 32 is accomplished automatically at the end of each complete revolution. The construction of the clutch and of the actuator for engaging and disengaging the clutch is the same as that illustrated and fully described in United States Letters Patent No. 2,274,140, issued in my name on February 24, 1942. Therefore, since the starting and stopping mechanism of the present machine forms no part of this invention and since reference may be made to said latter patent for a complete disclosure of these features, only so much of the mechanism for operating the cam shaft will be mentioned herein as is necessary to fully comprehend the construction and operation of those novel features to which the present invention is directed.

The cam shaft 32 is provided with three power cams. The forward cam 42 engages with a cam follower roll 44 on top of the plunger 30 for imparting intermittent downward movement and clenching pressure to the setting tool 31 which is alternately elevated by a return spring 46. Another cam 48 periodically actuates an eyelet raceway 50 to rock the raceway about a pivotal support 52 aflixed to the frame bracket 34. The raceway is kept supplied with eyelets in the usual manner by an eyelet box (not shown) located atop the raceway. The raceway 50 is normally biased by a return spring ing 94 recessed within the fixed support 23.

54, so that in the at-rest position of the machine, Figs. 1 and 9, the lower end of the raceway will present the barrel of the endmost eyelet in vertical alinement with an eyelet impaling spindle 55 telescopically attached to the setting tool 31. The cam 48 bears against a follower roll 56 (Fig. 9) axially supported from the race way to cause the lower end of the raceway to be rocked to one side when this cam is rotated. The third cam 58 operates to alternately rotate the lower anvil tool in opposite directions and in time relation to the actuation of both the raceway and the upper setting tool. The groove of this cam 53, Figs. 1 and 7, is engaged by a cam follower roll 60 axially supported on one end of an arm 62, the other end of which arm is affixed to a down' wardly extending rocker shaft 64 suitably mounted upon the frame of the machine by upper and lower bearing brackets 66, 6%. Rigidly attached to the lower end of the shaft 64; is another arm 70 on the forward free end of which there is formed a segment gear '72, the teeth of which enmesh with a gear 74 for rotatably actuating the anvil tool during the wire wrapping operation. A wire feed stop 76 is adjustably clamped to the top of the housing 24 by a screw 73, Fig. 3, to provide an abutment against which the bared end of the wire W is manually pressed when initially presented to the machine.

Lower anvil tools for clenching and wire wrapping operations The construction of the lower tools assembly within the housing 24 is best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 12. A cylindrical anvil member 80, provided with a recessed annular upsetting shoulder 82 (Fig. 3) and a pilot pin 84 projecting therefrom, is clamped by a setscrew 86 within the upper axial bore of a rotatable double-ended sleeve member 88. The sleeve, in turn, is clamped by a setscrew 90 to a shaft 92 formed integral with the gear 74. This gear shaft 92 is rotatably mounted in a bush- The lower end of the sleeve member 88 is likewise rotatably mounted within a bushing 96. The above-described construction enables the anvil and sleeve members to be oscillated concomitantly with the gear 74 in response to the actuation of the lever 70 by the cam 58.

A vertically movable cutter blade 98 is mounted in two opposed slide grooves formed in the forward walls of the anvil and sleeve members, so that the blade is oscillated by the rotary movement of said members. The upper end of the blade 98 is contoured to match the upsetting shoulder 82 of which it forms a sectorlike portion when in lowered position. This blade is elevated (Figs. 2 and S) to protrude above the level of the shoulder 82 by a stationary cam 100 acting upon a cutter foot 102 extending radially outward through a slot 104 in the wall of the sleeve 88.

A wire engaging finger 106 is pivotally mounted at its lower end by a fixed pin 108 set in a subhousing memher 110, so that the finger, extending through a slot in the member 1 10, may be swung in a vertical plane into or out of engagement with the wire W. The finger normally is pressed inward into wire-engaging position by a spring 112. When so positioned an inwardly extending arm 114 is accommodated by a transverse cam slot 116 out in the forward face of the sleeve member 88. Upon rotation of the sleeve away from its at-rest position (Fig. 2), the finger is cammed outward, as illustrated in Fig. 12, to clear the wire and the path of the descending eyelet setting tool 31.

Sequence of operation With the machine in its at-rest position (Figs. 1 and 2), the wire is presented in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. The operator then treadles the machine thereby commencing the rotation of the cam shaft 32. During the initial operational phase, the lower tools assembly is not actuated by its cam 58, Figs. 7 and 8. However, as soon as the cam 42 begins to rotate, the spindle 55 is lowered to impale the endmost eyelet E in the raceway. When the spindle has passed through the eyelet barrel, the raceway is swung to one side by its cam 48. Continued downward movement of the spindle on the upsetting tool 31 deposits the eyelet barrel upon the pilot 84 so that a section of the lower barrel end of the eyelet is forced against the upstanding cutter blade 98, causing a portion C of the barrel to be progressively split and clenched around the wire in the manner illustrated in Fig. 5. Having thus firmly united a portion of the eyelet to the end of the wire W, the clenching pressure of the tool 31 is momentarily relieved by a slight upward movement of the plunger 30 (Fig. in order to permitthe partially clenched and upset eyelet to be rotated readily without a frictional drag between the eyelet flange and the tool 31. The cam 58 now commences to rotate the lower tools assembly with the elevated cutter blade acting as a key inserted into the wall of the eyelet barrel to cause the eyelet to be turned by the rotation of the assembly and thereby wrap the end of the wire about the barrel to form an eye. During the wire wrapping phase of operation the setting tool remains stationary, but the finger W6 is cammed out of the path of said tool, and toward the completion of the rotation of the lower tools assembly the relation of the cutter foot :102 to the surface of the cam 100 is such that the cutter is free to descend to the level of the anvil shoulder. Full downward pressure is then applied to the tool 31 to completely clench the eyelet, Figs. 12 and 13. Upon continued rotation of the cam shaft the tool 31 is elevated and the raceway returns to eyelet delivering position, while the lower tools assembly simultaneously rotates back to its at-rest position, thus both elevating the cutter blade to free the wire terminal from the anvil shoulder, and returning the finger to its normal position. The clutch then disengages and the cam shaft is stopped by the braking mechanism, so that when the machine comes to res-t the completed terminal, Fig. 14, may be removed readily from the pilot and another end of wire inserted for the next terminal-forming operation of the machine.

When operating upon certain types of wire it may not be necessary to employ the finger 106 for holding the wire against the pilot in proper position for the initial clenching operation. In such instances, when the finger is removed, Fig. 4, it has been found advantageous to modify the shape of the abutment face on the wire feed stop. The modified feed stop 118 has a facial contour adapted to guide the wire, when pressed toward the face, against the pilot 84.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An eyeleting machine comprising, a frame; an anvil tools assembly, including an upstanding pilot for receiving an unset eyelet, supported thereby and rotatable about its vertical axis; an eyelet setting tool arranged to cooperate with said assembly; means for moving said tool toward and from the assembly; and means for oscillating the assembly about said axis in time relation to the movements of the setting tool; said tools assembly comprising, in addition to the pilot, an upsetting shoulder surrounding the root of the pilot, a cutter blade for splitting a portion of said eyelet and clenching the split portion around a Wire which has been disposed adjacent the eyelet, said blade being movable in directions toward and away from the setting tool, and means responsive to the oscillation of said blade for normally maintaining the blade upstanding above the level of said shoulder, whereby the blade acts as a key to rotate the split eyelet and cause the wire to be wrapped around the eyelet, and for thereafter permitting the blade to be moved to said level as the setting tool closely approaches the shoulder to clench the eyelet about the Wrapped 'wire.

2. An eyeleting machine comprising, a frame; an anvil tools assembly, including an upstanding pilot for receiving an unset eyelet, supported thereby and rotatable about its vertical axis; an eyelet setting tool arranged to cooperate with said assembly; means for moving said tool toward and firom the assembly; means for oscillating the assembly about said axis in time relation to the movements of the setting tool; a movable finger operatively disposed adjacent the pilot to accommodate a wire between said finger .and pilot; and means responsive to the oscillation of the assembly for moving the finger into or out of engagement with the wire; said tools assembly comprising, in addition to the pilot, an upsetting shoulder surrounding the root of the pilot, a cutter blade for splitting a portion of said eyelet and clenching the split portion around a Wire which has 'been disposed adjacerrt the eyelet, said blade being movable in directions toward and away from the setting tool, and means responsive to the oscillation of said blade for normally maintaining the blade upstanding above the level of said shoulder, whereby the blade acts as a key to rotate the split eyelet and cause the wire to be wrapped around the eyelet, and for thereafter permitting the blade to be moved to said level as the setting tool closely approaches the shoulder to clench the eyelet about the wrapped wire.

3. In a machine for attaching an eyelet to a wire to form a wire terminal, an anvil member; an eyelet setting toolfor forcing an eyelet, barrel end first, downward upon said member; cutter means engageable, upon the descent of the eyelet, with a barrel portion thereof to split said portion heightwise and clench the split portion about a wire disposed adjacent and transverse to said barrel portion; and means for revolving the cutter, while engaged within the barrelof the eyelet, whereby the blade acts as a key to rotate the eyelet and cause the wire to be wrapped about the remaining barrel portion.

4. In an eyeleting machine, an anvil having an annular upsetting shoulder and an upstanding pilot concentric therewith for guiding an unset eyelet thereto; an eyelet setting tool arranged to cooperate with said anvil to deliver an eyelet, barrel end first, upon said pilot and then to press the barrel of the eyelet against said shoulder; a movable cutter blade comprising a sectorlike portion of said shoulder, said blade normally being maintained in elevated position above the level of the shoulder for splitting a portion of said eyelet and clenching the split portionaround a wire which has been disposed adjacent the eyelet; means for oscillating the anvil and cutter blade in time relation to the operation of said tool, whereby the blade acts as a key to rotate the split eyelet and cause the wire to be wrapped around the eyelet; and means, responsive to oscillation of the anvil and cutter blade, for releasing the blade from its elevated position when the setting tool closely approaches the shoulder to clench the eyelet barrel about the wrapped wire.

5. An eyeleting machine for attaching an eyelet to a wire, comprising, an anvil assembly; an eyelet setting tool arranged to movably cooperate with said assembly for upsetting and clenching the barrel of the eyelet against the assembly; said assembly including a cutter blade relatively movable toward and away from the setting tool; means for normally maintaining said blade projecting above the general level of the anvil assembly, whereby upon the initial movement of the tool toward the assembly a portion only of the barrel is split and clenched about a wire disposed adjacent and transverse to said barrel portion; and means for revolving said cutter blade while projecting into the barrel to rotate the eyelet and thereby cause the wire to be wrapped into an eye about the remaining portions of the barrel.

6. In an eyeleting machine for uniting an end of wire to an eyelet, an anvil having an upsetting shoulder; means for pressing an eyelet, barrel end first, toward and against said anvil; cutter means associated with said anvil for engaging and longitudinally splitting a portion of the eyelet barrel as the barrel approaches the anvil and for clenching said portion about an end of wire when presented between said means; and means for revolving the cutter means while the latter is engaged within the barrel to thereby cause the eyelet to rotate and wrap the wire end about the barrel.

7. In an eyeleting machine for forming a wire terminal by first clenching a portion of an eyelet barrel circumferentially about the end of a wire then rotating the eyelet to form a Wire eye around the barrel and finally clenching the remainder of the barrel about said eye; a rotatably mounted anvil assembly, including a cutter blade relatively movable heightwise with respect to the remaining portions of the anvil assembly; means normally-maintaining said blade extended beyond said remaining portions; means for forcibly pressing an eyelet, barrel end first, against said assembly into operative engagement with said extended blade whereby the blade enters and splits a portion of the eyelet barrel while progressively'clenching the split portion about the wire; means for rotating the anvil assembly while the cutter blade is engaged within the barrel whereby the barrel is revolved by the blade to cause the wire to be wrapped around the remainder of the eyelet barrel; and means, responsive to the rotation of the anvil assembly, for releasing the cutter preparatory to the complete clenching of the remaining barrel portions about the wire eye.

8. In combination with an eyeleting machine provided with an anvil assembly, an eyelet setting tool for presenting an eyelet to the operation of said assembly, and power means for producing reciprocal relative movement between the tool and assembly in directions toward and away from one another; a cutter blade cooperatively arranged with respect to said assembly; means for normally maintaining the blade extended beyond the assembly in the direction of the setting tool and in the approach path of a portion of the eyelet barrel to cut and wrap said portion of the barrel around a wire which has been disposed adjacent said portion; means for revolving the blade about the axis of said tool while the blade is extended, whereby the blade acts as a key to rotate the eyelet and cause the wire to be wrapped around the eyelet barrel; and means for releasing the blade to permit a close approach between the tool and assembly to clench the eyelet barrel about the wrapped wire.

9. The method of forming a wire terminal on the end of a conductor wire comprising the steps of positioning the end of wire at a tangent to a circumferential portion of aneyelet barrel; progressively splitting and curling the axial portion of the barrel adjacent said wire, and clenching the curled portion circumferentially about said Wire; rotating the eyelet about the axis of its barrel to wrap the Wire around the barrel in the form of a wire eye; and then clenching the remaining portion of the eyelet barrel around the wire eye.

10. The method of forming a wire terminal on the end of a conductor wire comprising the steps of permanently uniting the end of wire to an eyelet by upsetting a split axial portion of the eyelet barrel and clenching said portion around the wire; wrapping the wire around the circumference of the barrel; and then clenching the remaining portions of the barrel around the wrapped wire.

11. The method of forming a terminal on the end of a strand of Wire, comprising splitting a portion of an eyelet barrel along two substantially parallel and adjacent lines each extending from the edge of the barrel toward the eyelet flange; progressively deflecting said portion outward and circumferentially around the end of a wire located adjacent to and extending transversely to the rectangularly split portion; firmly clenching the wire between said portion and the flange; rotating the eyelet about the axis of its barrel to wrap the wire around the barrel in the form of a wire eye; and then clenching the remaining portion of the eyelet barrel around the Wire eye.

12. In an eyeleting machine, t'wo normally spaced apart tools each adapted to cooperate with the other for setting and clenching the barrel of an eyelet when operatively positioned therebetween; means for producing relative movement of said tools in directions toward and away from one another; a movable cutter blade normally disposed between said tools so as to be in the approach path of a portion of the eyelet barrel whereby upon the approach of the tools the blade engages the leading end of the barrel and splits said portion away from the remainder of the barrel; means for revolving said blade about the axis of the barrel while thus engaged; and means for removing said blade from between said tools.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,296,983 Cooper et a1 Sept. 29, 1942 2,439,465 Gookin Apr. 13, 1948 2,530,575 Gookin Nov. 21, 1950 

